OUR MISSION

Habitat First Group is a development company founded on the principle of creating holiday home communities that share a deep love for Mother Nature.

Combining excellence in architecture, interior design, state-of-the-art facilities, security and service, Habitat First Group creates an oasis of space where families can holiday comfortably and responsibly, while safely exploring the great outdoors.

Habitat First Group is a family-run business. Having launched Lower Mill Estate in 1999, the company has now spread its wings with the launch of Silverlake, Dorset and has a number of other exciting projects in the pipeline.

We combine location, ecology, knowledge and grounded luxury to enable us to give your family a habitat to thrive.

HOW IT STARTED

Almost 20 years ago, on a hot summer’s day, Jeremy Paxton saw an enticing spot by a lake in the Cotswolds whilst he was flying his helicopter. The area was clear and he landed for a sandwich, a swim and a snooze.

A chance lunch with a friend led Jeremy to discover that the plot was for sale and three weeks later Jeremy was the owner of what is now known as Lower Mill Estate.

After many years of enjoying the estate with his family he looked at the possibility of sharing it with other people and building a limited number of vacation homes that harmonised ecology, architecture and people. After many years of developing a master-plan Jeremy and his family achieved permission to build 575 vacation homes across the site. Only one third of the site is developable leaving two thirds as untouched nature reserve and lakes.

The group is still run by the Paxton family who strive to lead the way in building award-winning vacation communities where families can make memories.

LOWER MILL ESTATE
BRINGS PEOPLE, ECOLOGY AND
AWARD-WINNING ARCHITECTURE
TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY

OUR DEVELOPMENTS

AND SUPPORTING BUSINESSES

Habitat First creates private, vacation home communities that share a love for mother nature. By combining excellence in architecture, interior design, facilities, security and service, home owners can escape from the rigours of city living.

Habitat First offers an oasis of space where families can holiday comfortably and responsibly, safely explore and re-energise in acres and acres of natural habitat.

Lower Mill Estate brings people, ecology and award-winning architecture together in perfect harmony.

Your home reflects your requirements, so when purchasing a plot at Lower Mill Estate, you are 100 per cent involved from the very early stages of the bespoke design process right through to the end result.

You can select one of Lower Mill Estate’s award-winning property designs, modify an existing one or instruct your own architect to create a one-off design. Recommended builders are on hand to help you build and customise your property. Selecting from a multitude of layouts, a range of interiors and the best in sustainable materials and finishes, you are certain to create a home-from-home with your stamp on it.

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In 2011 the Paxton family purchased this quarry, now known as Silverlake. Situated near Dorchester and Weymouth and previously a WW2 air base, the site is perfectly located for the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coastline. Silverlake’s first village, Beaumont Village along with The Hurricane Spa, is now complete and work on the site’s second and third villages, Wakeling and Overton Island, is well underway. Whilst the concept is the same as Lower Mill, the product and location is very different.

Please click on the link below to discover more about the location, the site’s heritage and its incredible facilities.

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In 2012 the Paxton family purchased the 156 acre Venn Quarry, near Barnstaple in North Devon. Sitting alongside the Tarka Trail and only moments from North Devon’s stunning beaches, Birchwood is a new and exciting proposition for Habitat First Group.

Restoration works have now been completed and homes will be available for reservation from Autumn 2019.

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News

The Falcon House – House of the Month

We are super pleased that our eco-friendly Falcon House at Birchwood, North Devon has been featured as House of the Month in the latest Country and Town House publication. Designed by contemporary architects Koto, the…

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Red Paxton’s interview with LMH

Red Paxton, Co-Founder of Habitat First Group recently spoke with Jemma Lester, MD of Luxury Marketing House. They discussed the story of Habitat First Group, it’s working with nature ethos and some of the many other…

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Moth diversity at Silverlake

Silverlake is home to a huge range of wonderful insects thanks to the diversity of habitats it hosts. Of these insects, moths are often overlooked as many only fly at night and even the day-flying…

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Welcoming the Sand Martins back from Africa

Habitat First Group have recently been getting things ready to welcome Sand martins back from Africa.  The Sand martin (Riparia riparia) is a tiny earth-brown and white bird that arrives from Africa as early as…

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Wildflowers bloom at Lower Mill Estate

Wildflowers bloom with brilliance at Lower Mill Estate from late spring to autumn. They don’t just bring us great joy, but are also a lifeline for our bees, butterflies, pollinating bugs and birds. Swill Meadow…

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30 days of the great outdoors

We know how unsettling the past few weeks have been for families and understand that the prospect of weeks at home trying to educate and entertain the kids is seriously daunting. To help the days…

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Andrew Cotton x Birchwood

We’re delighted to announce a new partnership with professional big wave surfer, Andrew Cotton. As a fellow outdoor enthusiast and lover of all things North Devon, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with him….

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Welcome to Habitat Zero

We are delighted to announce a new Habitat First Group company, Habitat Zero. For the past two decades we have strived to have a positive impact on nature, the community and the well-being of the…

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Watching the seasons change

While some people are shivering, we look forward to Autumn at Habitat First Group, as our country estates come into their own. Along with thousands of trees changing colour, this is a great time to…

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THE LIFE CYCLE AT LOWER MILL ESTATE

As many of you will know, we have motion activated nature cams dotted around the nature reserve to keep track of our resident wildlife and particularly the effectiveness of our ecology management plan. Every now…

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KOTO ANNOUNCE THEIR COLLABORATION WITH HABITAT FIRST

Habitat First Group is a family-run development company founded on the principle of creating holiday home communities that share a deep love for Mother Nature. Combining excellence in architecture, interior design, state-of-the-art facilities, security and…

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Introducing Biophilic Living

Interaction with nature is critically important to human well-being and development, but has become diminished in modern times. For over 20 years, Habitat First Group has been developing architect-designed homes for people who want to…

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DESIGNS

Having worked with some of the world’s leading architects, Habitat First Group are at the forefront of vacation home architecture and nowhere in the world can you find such an eclectic mix of designs and materials across a single development.

SEE OUR EXCITING DESIGNS +

HABITAT HOUSE

HABITAT HOUSE DESIGNED TO LAST 1,000 YEARS

The Habitat House is a ground-breaking design by award-winning architects Featherstone Young. With a distinctive wildflower sloping roof, it blends in beautifully with the natural environment.

These homes provide the very best in sustainable luxury and are designed to last 1,000 years.

WATER GARDEN

LARGE ROOF TERRACE THAT SPANS THE WHOLE WIDTH AND LENGTH OF THE PROPERTY OFFERING PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE ESTATE.

This new exciting Water Garden design by architect Andy Ramus focuses on renewable energy resources and low energy bills. Built with structural insulated panels (SIPs) and hand-finished by local tradesmen, it is one of the most efficient designs that Habitat First Group has launched.

LIGHTHOUSE

THE FIRST HABITAT FIRST GROUP DESIGN TO MEET PASSIVHAUS PERFORMANCE

Designed by architect Jerry Tate and constructed from structural insulated panels (SIPs), these homes are clad in natural larch timber, clay brick and recycled rubber roof tiles. The Light House is the first Habitat First Group design to meet Passivhaus standards and code level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

THE BARN

A VERY SPACIOUS AIRY FEEL

Designed by architect Willmore Iles, the distinctive Cotswolds tiled pitched roof, gable ends and an almost entirely glass frontage combine to give the Barn a very spacious, airy feel. Their flexible design can be configured to suit small and large families. The houses can be finished in cedar, stone and/or render.

SUN HOUSE

ONE OF HABITAT FIRST GROUP’S MOST POPULAR DESIGNS

The award-winning four-bed Sun House has been one of Habitat First Group’s most popular designs thanks to its large open-plan living area and mezzanine floor, which allows owners to customise the space according to their needs. The design has won Best Small House in recent years.

CORNER HOUSE

BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIVING

Avant-Garde architecture with room to grow. The cubic design of the Corner House combines minimalist simplicity with cutting edge contemporary construction to deliver a space that allows your family room to grow. Strategically placed roof lights flood the house with natural light and large open plan living areas offer a sociable space to relax and enjoy the far reaching views across the nature reserve.

THE CRESCENT

TWO BEDROOMED COTTAGES IN THE CRESCENT

The Crescent is the centre piece of Beaumont Village, Silverlake. With contemporary spacious ground floor living opening onto southerly facing decks and gardens. Full width first floor Balconies accessed from both bedrooms enjoy the panoramic views to the coast. The Crescent is the perfect place for a family to relax into the unique Dorset countryside. Architectural excellence married with local stone and cedar cladding give your family their own grand design.

THE COTTAGES

THREE AND FOUR BED DETACHED COTTAGES

The Cottages draw inspiration from and reflect the local vernacular. The detail, scale and proportions promote a unique West Dorset character at the heart of the village, creating a sense of place. The materials used come from a traditional palette of local stone, timber, render and tiles. The Cottages elegantly integrate traditional architectural features with contemporary interpretations creating a harmonious aesthetic. The internal spaces offer a charming and relaxed haven.

ORCHID HOUSE

AVANT-GARDE DESIGN AT ITS BEST

Orchid House is one of Habitat First Group’s Landmark houses inspired by the rare Bee Orchid flower found at the estate. The organic form is created from laminated veneer lumbar (LVL) ribs and clad with timber shingles (tiles). The camouflage pattern is burnt in to the timber. It was a design the late Jeremy Paxton was extremely passionate about and the Paxton family are keen on delivering this design at Silverlake.

SKYDECK

SUSTAINABILITY MEETS CONTEMPORARY LIVING WITH 360 DEGREE VIEWS

The Skydeck, designed by Willmore Iles, represents the perfect marriage of contemporary architecture, eco-friendly construction and outstanding connectivity with the great outdoors. The full-length roof terrace with full glass frontage is accessed by a hydraulic roof light and offers stunning views over the lakes and the nature reserve beyond. Picture credit to Endless Sky, which is available to rent via Habitat Escapes.

ENQUIRIES

For further information contact
Habitat First Group
Unit 4 Priory Court
Poulton
GL7 5JB
live@habitatfirstgroup.com
T: +44 (0)1285 869 489

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

For media enquiries, please contact
The PC Agency
www.pc.agency
habitatfirst@pc.agency
T: +44 (0)20 7768 0001

HOLIDAY ENQUIRIES

For holiday enquiries, please contact us at
www.habitatescapes.com
stay@habitatescapes.com
T: +44 (0) 1285 869 489 Ext 2


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CONTACT

For further information contact
Habitat First Group
Unit 4 Priory Court
Poulton
GL7 5JB
live@habitatfirstgroup.com
Tel:+44 (0)1285 869 489